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Governor Coles Memorial

Valley View Cemetery

1564 Lewis RoadEdwardsville, IL

Open:

Dawn-Dusk

Edward Coles was the second governor of Illinois. A former slave owner from Virginia, Coles became an abolitionist and won the 1822 gubernatorial election as the candidate of the anti-slavery forces. He helped defeat a call for a constitutional convention to consider the legalization of slavery in Illinois. The memorial, which stands at Valley View Cemetery, was erected in 1928 and 1929 and contains a square bas-relief bronze portrait of Coles, sculpted by Leon Hermant. Coles is buried in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.